Continuing this week's Clean Up the World activities in Honiara, the Australia High Commissioner, Frank Ingruber, visited the Red Cross Special Development Centre today to speak to the children about the importance of keeping their environment clean.

They also discussed maritime and river pollution, the critical role of trees in preserving soil quality, and how these issues affect public health.

Mr Ingruber and the students planted a tree in the grounds of the Special Development Centre, to improve the environment around the school. This was the first of many trees, kindly donated by the Honiara Beautification Committee, to be planted this week in conjunction with Clean Up the World activities.

Today's school visit was part of the Clean Up Honiara campaign being jointly organised by the Solomon Islands Red Cross Society, Honiara City Council -Youth Division, the Australian High Commission, Honiara Beautification Committee and Live and Learn.

Earlier this week, Clean Up organisers visited Burnscreek High School, St John's Community School and Honiara High School to encourage students to take action to clean up their schools and their communities, and to promote a clean, safe and healthy environment to work and play.

The Clean Up activities will continue over the weekend, with a clean up of Honiara City on Saturday 19th September and a clean up of Turtle Beach and Bonegi on Sunday 20th September. We invite all non-government organisations, community groups, church congregations, youth groups, schools, businesses, government agencies and individuals to get involved to Clean Up Honiara.

The Honiara city clean up will cover from Honiara City Council Head Quarters to St John's Community High School. All those wishing to participate should assemble at the Honiara City Council at 7.30am on Saturday morning. Garbage bags and gloves will be provided. Please bring clean up tools if you have any. Participants are invited to join us for light refreshments after the clean up.

The beach clean up will start at Turtle Beach and Bonegi on Sunday at 10am. We encourage everyone to come along, particularly to Bonegi, and do your bit to help keep Honiara clean.

Clean Up the World is a community-based environmental program that inspires and empowers communities and individuals from every corner of the globe to clean up, fix up and conserve their environment. It started with one man, Ian Kerinan AO, and now involves 35 million people in over 120 countries.